Iconic Rapper DMX Dead At 50 After Suffering Heart Attack

On April 4, members of the Ruff Ryders bike club planned a massive vigil to celebrate and honor Simmons, playing his greatest hits and sending up prayers for his recovery.

#developing
@ruffryders roll in to White Plains Hospital to pay tribute to @dmx & offer their prayers & suppprt ???? #hot97
@HOT97
#fox5ny
@fox5ny
pic.twitter.com/LwgeB8cZ9n

— LISA EVERS (@LisaEvers) April 4, 2021

On Wednesday, he underwent a series of brain function and activity tests to help his family make further decisions on his health, People reported. 

The New York native will be remembered as a channel of light and inspiration to his fans.

During a 2019 interview he did with GQ, the rapper talked about his childhood, music and clothes. 

DMX admitted that he's probably owned 1,500 pairs of Timberland boots during his lifetime, becoming a staple in his wardrobe.

When asked about his source of joy, he mentioned his son, Exodus, whose name he has tattooed on his arm with a scripture from the chapter of the same name.

Simmons, who says he's read the whole bible three times, had become known for his powerful and moving prayers. 

While in quarantine, the rapper held a virtual Bible session. 

Who knew that DMX reading the Bible was exactly what I needed right now pic.twitter.com/PrNa3CWznV

— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) April 25, 2020

During the 2016 Bad Boy reunion tour, DMX also delivered a resounding prayer.

"Father God we thank you for this gathering of souls. The word says that when two or more gather in your name you are present, so we thank you for your presence. We ask that your grace and blessings are upon this show this evening. We pray that any obstacle the devil plans to place in our path are removed in the name of Jesus," DMX said. 

"We pray that there are no fighting, no stabbings, no shootings, no arrests, no drunk driving, no altercations or incidents whatsoever," he added. 

Revealing that his favorite book growing up were stories from the Bible, his faith would follow him even as he achieved success.

During a performance in Las Vegas, DMX told the crowd: "When you fall down, get back up, everyone here has been through some s**t and you never know what God is willing to do for you until you need him to do something for you."

The faith believer, however, had his share of battles but used his music as a creative expression. 

His music, which he says is unique for its depth, inspired generations of hip-hop fans. Growing up, he said he never thought he would be successful, mentioning during his GQ interview that he'd preferred to "make music for people that I come in contact with, people that I can count on."

Simmons has also been applauded for his transparency.

The late icon created a post on Instagram in 2019 sharing that he had checked himself into rehab as a commitment to putting his "family and sobriety first."

As Blavity previously reported, the "Where My Dogs At" rapper said he was tricked into smoking crack at 14 years old by his mentor who he looked up to. 

Visibly emotional during the interview on Talib Kweli's People Party podcast, the rapper described his relationship with his mentor, referring to him as "an older brother."

"He would rap and I would do the beatbox. I looked up to him like an older brother. I loved him like an older brother. I didn't have any brothers," DMX said before crying. "This guy, he introduced me to what would be the best part of my life, which would be the rap, but I was also blessed with a curse. The curse aspect of it was, I didn't smoke cigarettes, I didn't smoke weed, I didn't do anything."

"Me and my mans did a robbery one night and it was his birthday and we came back and were splitting the money. He came back with a blunt rolled up and he passed it around. I hit the blunt and I was no longer focused on the money. It f**ked me up. I never felt like that before. I later found out he laced the blunt with crack," he recalled. 

But his personal struggles didn't overshadow his achievements. 

His 1999 album And Then There Was X went platinum five times. He's also credited as a multi-nominated Grammy artist. 

His last album Undisputed was released in 2012. 

Despite being an adorned rapper, DMX also appeared in multiple movies including Romeo Must Die and Cradle 2 the Grave. Additionally, he appeared as himself in multiple movies and shows, CNN reported. 

Last summer, fans adorned and congratulated DMX as he participated in a Verzuz battle with Snoop Dogg. The mashup instantly became one of the most notable Verzuz episodes with millions of viewers. 

DMX VS. Snoop is seriously the best thing to happen this week. pic.twitter.com/k0UG1NxBbZ

— SHAOLIN G (@BASEMENTGHOST) July 23, 2020

Of the notable memories the rapper leaves behind with his fans is his rendition of the Christmas jingle "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer."

DMX was born in Mount Vernon, New York on Dec. 18, 1970, and was the only child of Arnett Simmons and Joe Barker. He later moved to Yonkers with his family where he was raised, according to The New York Times.

In 2019, he reflected on the abuse he suffered as a child.

"[My mother] beat two teeth out of my f**king mouth with a broom," he told GQ, adding that he believed she didn't know how to properly love him as a teen mom. "Maybe she didn't know what do with me."

"[My father] never called me on my birthday or helped raise me at all," he recounted in his 2002 autobiography E.A.R.L.

The New York Post reported that he would often run away from home to escape abuse and would seek shelter in Salvation Army clothing bins and befriend stray dogs. 

Despite battling personal trauma, Simmons' attorney said his client was "an amazing person."

"He walked into a room, he lit up the room. He couldn't help making you feel good in his presence," Murray Richman said. 

While reflecting on his own destiny in life during an interview, the rapper said that he doesn't set goals, adding that "… I don't even know that purpose, because God has given me that purpose since before I was in the womb, so I'm going to fulfill that purpose… whether I want to or not, whether I know it or not, because the story has already been written."

The rapper leaves the world with many fans, friends and family members to cherish his memory, contribution to the music industry and his admirable ability to be inspiring and transparent.